Pregnancy Update: 36 Weeks (17P Injection)

Heidi now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a romaine lettuce.) She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body,
the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. 

My mom took the kids to her house for a few days this week. Bobby was thankful to get a little break! AND he even went with me to get a pedicure! He says it's a once a decade thing!

Top right. . . Scraping his callous' tickled so bad he was biting his hand! 

Monday, I started having contractions again. They lasted for 2 hours at 4 minutes apart (4/10 on the pain scale), then stopped! 2 hours later they started again! So we went to the hospital, assuming if they kept coming there must be a cervical change. Labor and delivery was really busy. I was in a wheelchair in the waiting room for 2 hours. . . and the contractions stopped! Sigh. We decided to go home without being checked.

Wednesday, the doctor cleared me to be off bed rest!! Waaaahoooo!! I am 100% effaced, meaning my cervix is is VERY thin, 2cm dilated and she could feel the baby's head. She said she doesn't think I will make it to my appointment next week! The contractions from earlier in the week are doing their job. She said she thinks when the actual labor comes it will be fast! It's so refreshing knowing she is healthy and can come at any time! All the praise goes to God and the prayers that have been sent up over the past 10 weeks! Thank you! I cleaned 3 rooms yesterday! It felt so good. I was uncomfortable the whole time but now it's ok to be uncomfortable!

Thursday: Being off bed rest is a total change in mind set. I had contractions again today. We waited 5 hours this time to see if they stuck around or faded like earlier in the week. When they persisted, we decided to go in. At this point they were a 6/10 on the pain scale. The doctor checked me and I am 3.5cm dilated. 1.5cm more then 24 hours before at my doctor's appointment. The contractions lasted for 12 hours with no further dilation! exhausting! Since there was no cervical change they said go home, take a bath, get some sleep. That's exactly what I did and the contractions subsided.

We walked to the store

Bobby and I are tired. We are anxious to have our baby. We don't want her to come too much later because Bobby is already off work. Each day she stays put, is another day he doesn't get to spend with her. But each day she stays in, is another day closer to full gestation! Anyway, we need to be at peace with however long she stays in! WE feel like we are getting to experience a true pregnancy! The anticipation, the wonder, the patience. With Jeremy and Capri it was not like that!

We are so excited to meet this little girl! Jeremy has changed his prayers from:

"Keep the baby safe in Mommy's belly until it's time to come out" 

to 

"Thank you for keeping the baby safe. Please let her come out so I can snuggle." 

Cheers until next week! 

JUMP!

We got a trampoline! A sweet friend GAVE it to us! Can you believe it? What a huge blessing! She was offering it on Facebook and I happened to see it first to claim it! Mark one up for bed rest and being on the computer all the time! We only had to make a trip to Covina and buy a new net! 

SCORE!

The kids love it!  Bobby takes Capri and jumps with her. . . Oh my her giggle when she is up in the air with her hair straight up is indescribable! We have had friends over to jump and they love it too! Don't worry I haven't been on it yet! But once this baby girl decides to make her appearance and I'm recovered. . . I'll be jumping away with those cute kids! Bobby even had the great idea of looking up workout routines using the trampoline! What a fantastic idea! I love that man!

The kids loved helping Bobby set it up! It was so cute to watch! 

Jeremy's First Airplane Ride*

At, 6 months old, you went on your first airplane ride! We went to see Uncle Dillin graduate from USMC boot camp! You didn't sleep well the night before we left. We were up so many times! So we are all tired! When we were going through security we met the captain. He wanted you to come to the cockpit and get pictures! How special! AND he bought Daddy and Mommy snacks while we were on the plane! So sweet! Well, you were wide awake the whole time we check in and waited for our flight. You nursed just before we took off and slept the WHOLE flight. We even switched you between us and you stayed asleep! You woke up just before we landed. Descending and landing didn't even phase you! That was a 5 hour flight from LA to Atlanta. From Atlanta to Savanna you did the same pattern! You were amazing! Oh, all the flights people would say, "I didn't even know there was a baby on this flight!"

Aunt Savanna and Papa Bear picked us up from the airport.

Papa Bear meeting you!
I love that the airport had rocking chairs! 

Grandma meeting you! So precious, she cried!

Top Left: We were all up at 4am to be at Family Day!
This made for some funny pictures and jokes as we were all jet lagged!
During Dillin's formation I yelled, "Heidtmann." His whole platoon heard and had to stifle their laugh!
After they released Dillin he gave us a tour around base! 

We got to see a REAL crocodile or alligator. . . I never know which lives where!
South Carolina sunset! Gorgeous!

Graduation day! Still up early but we got some rest!
How handsome does my husband look in his Dress Blues??!!
All the graduated Marines were impressed with his Ribbons and Medals!
I am so proud to call him mine!  

This picture is so precious!
Dillin giving my dad his first issued EGA: Eagle, Globe & Anchor pin.

We went sight seeing! Playing in the sad of the Atlantic Ocean.
Jeremy was a bit cranky all day, Probably due to his schedule being off.

Family Time!
Bottom Right: B hiding in the trunk of the car because Jeremy was so fussy!

Our little family!

Maternity Shots Pregnancy #4

Big sister!
"Hello Baby!"

I love, love seeing maternity shots! I wanted to be sure I take them with all my pregnancies. I don't want the "last" child to miss out because the were the last! In our case however, we didn't get them with Jeremy because he came early! With the girls, I had to make sure we took them!

I am so blessed to get this guy's genes in my babies!
He is thee best Daddy I could ask for!

The kids had fun painting for the baby!

My precious girl!
35 Weeks

Big Brother!

Big Sister!

A Special Visit From Vermont

Top Left: Grandma Bear racing with Capri
Top Right: Auntie Savanna playing Candy Land with Jeremy
Bottom Right: Capri being the photographer! Not bad! Auntie Savanna holding Levi
Botton Right: Grandma Bear doing Capri's hair

Grandma Bear and Auntie Savanna came out to visit! They were SO MUCH HELP to us! Bobby was able to go to work and know the kids and I were taken care of! They said, "What do you need done? Like what do you NEED done that you don't want to ask someone else to do?" I said, "Dust the ceiling fans!" It was so nice! They were great with the kids. The kids fell in love with them!

We are so thankful the took the time and made the trip.

Update on the BIG girl!

We turned Capri's crib into a toddler bed. She can get in and out on her own. That means we have to keep reminding her that she has to stay in bed at nap and bed time. We have a new, fancy, smancy, monitor. We can see her, hear her, move the camera around her room, put white noise on through it, turn on a night light, and talk to her through it. It's pretty awesome! It's the Lorax Care N Share Baby!

It's been about a week since we made the switch. She has been really good. Only a handful of times
has she slipped out of bed to play. Last night, we forgot to watch on the monitor! Bobby went in to kiss her goodnight before we went to bed. . . This is what he found. . .

Toys every where, EVEN under her! But she has her sleepy blanket next to her! Silly girl! I would have loved to watch this process on the monitor. She was playing so long that she fell asleep ON her toys! What a crack up!

Pregnancy Update: 35 Weeks (17P Injection)

I am so excited to report we have made it to 35 weeks! I received my LAST injection this week! Bobby is popping the Champagne as we speak! Not really, but he should! He really hates giving me injections! In all the case studies we read, they went into labor one week after injections stopped.

You can find all the detail of Capri at 35 weeks here.
With Capri, it was the same. EVEN to the HOUR! I got my injections at 9pm on Wednesdays. At 37 weeks, at 9pm, I started contacting! She was born at 7am Thursday morning! I had a shot at 36 weeks with Capri. With Rowan they are stopping at 35. . . So, next week I will either have another pregnancy update or a BABY update! And definitely a name for our girl! If I'm still pregnant, I will be able to be up a little more! Woo Hoo!

Name Update: We have decided to use Bobby's middle name: Loren with our girl! So, right now we are looking at Heidi Rae Loren Martens OR Rowan Loren Martens. We are still open to other combinations if you have any ideas. . . .

Here's some bed rest pictures! I'm soaking up my time with only 2, Capri being the only girl and the baby! GAH! Life is about to change so much!

Snuggles after nap!
Note Capri's big girl bed on the background!

Girl talk with Mama

She's a Big Girl Now!

We took the gate off her crib and made it into a toddler bed! YIKES! This is such a milestone for my sweet girl! Ready or not. . . i have to accept she is a toddler! She did well. Bobby put her to bed and forgot he had to watch her on the monitor. . . He went in sometime later to find ALL the wipes out of the package, a diaper next to her, and a BIG poop in her diaper! Ha! Smart girl! He told her to stay in bed after her changed her, of course. She did and fell asleep! We'll see how tonight goes!

We had some fun in the bathtub the other day!

Pool Day in March!

Kisses for the baby!

Only in So Cal can you have a Pool day in March! On the way home from church, Jeremy was asking Bobby if he can go to Kimo and Auntie Donna's to a swim day. He came home and called to ask! Of course, they said, "YES!" Cancelled their plans to work that day and were wonderful hosts, as always!
When the plans were made I ,of course, was going to stay home. Then I got to thinking. . . A car ride, some time to relax I the Jacuzzi. . . I think I can handle it! SO. . . I ventured out! And that's exactly what I did: Rode in the car, got in the jacuzzi (93*, below body temp so no risk to the baby), sat on the couch with heat, and rode home. It was a FABULOUS time! The jacuzzi felt wonderful! I was weightless! I didn't have the constant pull of the belly on my back! The jets get amazing on my back. I got to hold my kids because they were also weightless! I got to see Capri swim (kicking feet and rotating arms) for the first time! By far the highlight of my bed rest time!

March 2014 update

Pregnancy Update: 34 Weeks

Heidi now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a honeydew) and is almost 18 inches long.
Her fat layers are filling her out, she'll need these to regulate her body temperature
Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature.
Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine.
They may need a short stay in the NICU and may have a few short-term health issues,
but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

That little girl could barely hold the honeydew! In the bottom picture she is grunting! I just love the one she is looking up at me! My sweet girl has NO idea what having a baby sister entails! 

Jeremy was too busy playing in the mud with Dillon and Drew to take a silly picture! 

We had 2 labor scares this week! They were 4 days apart! The first started Friday (33w, 1d). Contractions were 4 minutes apart.  We called a friend that lives near us to stay the night with the kids and headed to the hospital. The hospital was busy that night. We had to wait in the waiting room for an hour and a half. We got into a bed, hooked up to the monitors, they gave Procardia to stop contractions.  The first dose didn't work, contractions were coming every 2 minutes and were a 4/10 intensity. After a second dose and a lot of prayer, they calmed down! They gave me a steroid injection to help the baby's lungs develop in case labor struck again and they weren't able to stop it. We were sent home in the morning with stricter bed rest guidelines.  Our dear friends, David and Danielle, picked the kids up in the morning and kept them all day and night! We got some much needed rest, Bobby got a night off from being Daddy. We had to be back at the hospital at 6 am Sunday morning to get the 2nd steroid injection. 

Tuesday night (33w, 5d), I started contracting every 4 minutes with a 6/10 intensity. Bobby was working so I called him home.  These contractions were much stronger and I thought my water may have broken. I was scared. I thought I was delivering a baby that night. Bobby's mom was here to stay with the kids. I cried on the way to hospital, praying the contractions would stop. They got me in a room quite fast. Got an IV and Procardia on board and we waited. After the 2nd dose, they calmed down. PHEW! Thanking Jesus, we headed home in the morning. We got a little nap in and took a trip to see my doctor. She said they don't know why I am contracting and not dilating but she doesn't want me on Procardia anymore. She said since I will be 34 weeks they will just labor play out, if it happens again. 

We made it to 34 weeks! This is a great milestone for us to reach!! Jeremy was born right at 34 weeks. I am now 34 and 1 day! That's cause for celebration. . . as much as one can celebrate while laying in a bed! Haha! Maybe I'll have some Girl Scout cookies! The injections have been going well. A bit sore on the injection site but it goes away in a few hours.  

Please join us in praying that I can make it to 36 weeks! 13 more days would do SO much for our little girl! But also pray that if she comes before that we are able to "go with the flow" so to speak with a baby that may have to spend some time in the hospital. 

Thank you for your prayers! 

Pregnancy Update: 33 Weeks

Rowan weighs a little over 4 pounds (about the size of a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. Her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. 

Incredible thankful to have made it to 33 weeks! This is further then I have made it with the other 2! By this time I had been in "active labor" with both. Granted I have had MANY more weeks bed rest. Maybe that's the key!

Jeremy wanted to take OUR picture this week!
He's a goober!

We were an hour late on my injection last night and I started having contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting 45 seconds!  Thanks you God for progesterone! Within an hour of taking it, drinking lots of water, and laying flat they subsided. Phew!

I need to start taking more pictures!
Top Left: Love my snuggles with her after naps!
Top Right: Silly faces during school time.
Middle Left: Helping with laundry.
Middle Right: Capri singing to the baby! Gush!
Bottom: Sitting loving on each other!

The kids have been doing great. The are so patient with everybody that comes over to help care for them. Bobby has 3 more shifts until he is home for 6 weeks! I'm so thankful for his job! He will be working SO much when he goes back to pay the guys back that helped him out. It's a small price to pay to have him home now!

I think that's about all this week!
Here's Capri's pregnancy update at 33 weeks!

February 2014 Update

These kids melt my heart every single day! I can't believe we are going to have 3 in a few weeks!